Lucy Graham and Mathilde Gordon set out to kayak over 2000km from Juneau (Alaska) to Vancouver Island (Canada) over 3 months to raise awareness about marine debris and promote women in adventure. The trip will take 3 months in total and they are doing it completely singe-use plastic-free.

Marine debris is an issue that is affecting our oceans worldwide, and one that we are both deeply passionate about. Our oceans are clogged with plastic and other rubbish, an international problem that one country cannot fix alone. We need the world to know more, and we want the everyday person to understand the problem and how to make a difference. Over the past few years, our involvement in local conservation groups and participation in beach cleanup events led to our decision to live a single-use plastic-free life, which we have both successfully been doing since March 2016. We are asking people to pledge to go plastic-free with us for the duration of the paddle, or donate to Passage Adventures. All donations will be directed to two marine debris organisations: The Tangaroa Blue Foundation in Australia and Living Oceans in Canada. These organisations are working hard to reduce marine debris in our oceans and establish source reduction plans. We hope our adventure will inspire others to pursue their own, and also encourage people to begin their journey to protecting our beautiful oceans.

What has been established to date:
1. We will raise at least $20,000 for ocean conservation by the end of our paddle. Half will go to The Tangaroa Blue Foundation in Australia, and half will go to Living Oceans in Canada
2. At the finish of the expedition, we will be doing a beach cleanup in collaboration with the Living Oceans Society
3. We will be doing the paddle as single-use-plastic-free as is humanly possible (especially when it comes to food packaging)
4. We are supported by OceanWise, headquartered at the Vancouver Aquarium
5. We have partnered with IUCN #Nature for all program and the UN Clean Seas Project
6. We are currently sponsored by;
- Lunette Australia
- Werner Paddles
- Kokatat
- Kayak Distribution (Boreal Designs Kayaks)
- Aquapac
- Cardzilla

We will inspire current and emerging generations of young Australian women to pursue their wildest dreams of adventure, even if it means crossing into unfamiliar territory.
We will share information, collaborate with, and educate communities across the world about the issue of marine debris.
We will connect organisations, groups and individuals who share a common goal across the seas.
We will inspire everyday people to be the change they want to see in the world.
We hope to assist in the scientific research on plastics in the ocean, to help create a shift in the way that every day materials are produced and disposed of.

Progress reports

August 2018

We will visit 2-3 schools, run 3 video conferences and do various public talks before, during and throughout our paddle in Australia, Alaska and Canada

August/2018

We will raise at least $20,000 for ocean conservation by the end of our paddle. Half will go to The Tangaroa Blue Foundation in Australia, and half will go to Living Oceans in Canada

August/2018

We will engage 1000s of people via social media, and sign up at least 50 people to a plastic-free pledge by the end of the trip

August/2018

We will help facilitate 5 public clean-ups (3 already completed), raising awareness of marine pollution and the importance of tracking and stopping rubbish back at the source

Financing (in USD)

15,000 USD

In-kind contribution

Sponsorship of gear, food and navigational resources

Other, please specify

We have established a support team for the duration of our paddle which will help us with safety, logistics and social media throughout the expedition

Staff / Technical expertise

we have reached out to various people from the UN, IUCN, Vancouver Aquarium, Educational Departments and other companies and organisations who have partnered with us and shared their expertise